Perhaps you like the idea of post-capture focus as provided by Lytro’s light field camera, but don’t want another single-function device? You might be in luck if rumors of a small sensor from Toshiba that emulates that ability prove true early next year.

But first the company officially announced a new 20-megapixel CMOS sensor it says “offers the industry’s highest resolution in the 1/2.3 inch optical format, using backside illumination technology to improve sensitivity and imaging performance.” Also, the TCM5115CL achieves a 15 percent improvement in full well capacity — the amount of charge an individual pixel can hold before saturating — over Toshiba’s previous generation. And it’s “designed to meet the demands of high quality, fast frame rate image capture and HD video recording supporting smooth, slow motion playback,” with fast capture at 60 frames per second at 1080p, or 100fps at 720p. The sensor is set for mass production in August 2013.

The new post-capture module will reportedly house an array of 500,000 tiny lenses. It’s aimed at phones, and so it’s smaller than Lytro’s system — just one centimeter thick. Also, it even captures video with selectable focal planes. However, it’s not likely to come out until the end of next year.

The new Camileo AIR10 from Toshibauploads to a computer via a WiFi connection, and can double as a wireless webcam.

The $150 camcorder captures 1080p HD; it has a 2-inch LCD, 5 megapixel back side illuminated CMOS sensor, and a fixed focal length lens.

Also: The Camileo Clip is billed as “the ultimate young adventurer’s ideal tool, fitting many of the features typically found in full-sized camcorders into a compact design.” Toshiba says the rugged splash-resistant and shock-proof mini candy bar style camcorder comes with a built-in clip that “allows users to quickly snap it on to their clothing or belt to capture every second of their hike, climb or bike in 1080p Full HD.” The $100 “ultraportable” weighs 2.5 ounces and measures 3.1 by 1.8 by 0.6 inches.

And finally: The Z100 3D camcorder captures both 2D and 3D. The $219 barrel-style camcorder has a 2.8-inch LCD touchscreen that displays both 2D and 3D, glasses-free.

The three manufacturers signed definitive agreements to transfer all shares of certain subsidiaries and integrate their small- and medium-sized display businesses into a new company to be established and operated by Innovation Network Corporation of Japan. INCJ is a public-private partnership that provides financial, technological and management support for next-generation businesses.

The X200 is a “budget-friendly traditional barrel-style camcorder” that sill packs interesting features such as slow-motion and time-lapse. It has a 12x optical zoom and is $230.

A 23x lens and touchscreen for $280.

The X416 is $320 for a 23x optical zoom and 16 gigabytes of storage that holds three hours of HD video. The X400 also has a 23x lens, but lacks the built-in Flash and so needs a storage card in its expansion slot. It’s $280.

Toshiba claims its Thrive 7-inch tablet “is the first seven-inch tablet in the U.S. market to offer a true HD display” — a 1280 by 800 resolution that “puts bright and crisp images from movies, photos, books and games right in your hand.”

Toshiba claims the highest-res screen on a 7-inch tablet.

The tablet sports Adaptive Display and Resolution+ video enhancement technologies, a dual-core processor, and NVidia GeForce graphics. It has a five-megapixel camera with an LED flash on the back for capturing pictures and video, plus a two-megapixel camera on the front for video chat.
It weighs under a pound, and measures just under half an inch thick.

Samsung Mobile announced a new Galaxy tablet. The Tab 8.9 is 8.6 millimeters thick. It has a dual-core processor, WXGA TFT display with a 1280 by 800 resolution, rear-facing 3-megapixel camera with flash and autofocus, and a front-facing 2-megapixel camera for video chat.
The Galaxy Tab 8.9 is $569 for the 32GB version and $469 for 16GB.

Also: Samsung’s upcoming $269 Galaxy Player 5 will have rear 3 megapixel camera and VGA front camera. It will measure 3 by 5.56 by 0.46 inches.

JPEA Photo Electro News reports Toshiba Corp. on Sept. 1 announced it has developed an SDHC memory card with embedded wireless LAN functionality to meet the SD memory card standard. The new card dubbed “FlashAir,” has an 8GB capacity and supports both peer-to-peer transfers and uploads to and downloads from serv- ers. Samples will be available from November 2011 and sales will start in February 2012. Sample price will be around 6,000 yen (US$75).

Intel Corp., Santa Clara., Calif., and Toshiba America Information Systems Inc., Irvine, Calif., announced a creative collaboration and campaign to deliver a new social film project titled “Inside.” As part of the film experience, an online casting call has also been issued at www.TheInsideExperience.com.

Starring Emmy Rossum (“Shameless,” “Phantom of the Opera”), “Inside” is a blockbuster-class experiment in social entertainment, brought to life by leading minds in Hollywood, technology and social media. The film aims to bring a new genre of interactive, social entertainment and is directed by D.J. Caruso (“Disturbia,” “I Am Number Four,” “Eagle Eye”) and Oscar-winning cinematographer Mauro Fiore (“Avatar,” “Training Day”).

“‘Inside’ is unique because it allows me as the director to direct not just the actors but the audience as well,” Caruso said. “Social film is still in an experimental phase and collaborations like this one will help bring new concepts, opportunities and ideas to the world of entertainment. We had to approach the film differently because there are blanks that need to be filled in by the social media audience, but that is what makes it an exciting new experience for the viewer; the opportunity to participate in the film itself.”

In the film, Rossum plays the role of Christina, a 20-something woman trapped in a room with only a 2nd Generation Intel Core i7 processor-powered Toshiba Satellite P775 series laptop and an untraceable Internet connection. Unable to determine where she is being held or what her fate might be, Christina uses the laptop to mobilize her social network, reaching out to friends, family and anyone else who can help her figure out where she’s being held and how to escape.

Unlike most static productions, “Inside” engages the audience by enlisting them to be a part of the film through social media. Viewers are encouraged to connect with Christina, tweet clues and post advice to her Facebook wall. The film will air in short episodes starting on July 25. During this time, viewers will be invited to activate their social channels and help decode Christina’s dilemma by posting tips, insights, ideas and clues. The editing team, led by Emmy-winning editor Josh Bodnar, will incorporate posts that best fit the storyline into the episodes.

Additionally, one viewer will have a chance to be cast in a role through a YouTube online casting call that runs through July 20. The winning video submission will be incorporated into the movie and the winner will be included in the credits of the film.

Toshiba Corp., Tokyo, Japan, announced the launch of a new 8 megapixel, 1.12 micrometer pixel CMOS image sensor, offering what the company claims is the industry’s smallest level pixel size with enhanced sensitivity and improved imaging performance of back-side illumination technology (BSI). Sampling of the new sensor will begin at the end of this month and mass production will follow from the end of 2011.

BSI sensors deploy lenses on the rear of the sensor, on its silicon substrate, not on the front, where wiring limits light absorption, says the company, noting this positioning boosts light sensitivity and absorption, and allows formation of finer image pixels in smaller CMOS image sensors, bringing it more suitable for motion pictures applications as well. Toshiba expects BSI CMOS image sensors to become the mainstream technology in portable digital technology, with applications expanding from mobile phones and digital cameras to smartphones and tablets.

Toshiba’s Digital Products Division (DPD), a division of Toshiba America Information Systems Inc., Irvine, Calif., launched the waterproof CAMILEO BW10 camcorder. The pocket-sized, HD camcorder comes in silver and yellow and features a rubberized coating for recording underwater. The latest addition to Toshiba’s CAMILEO line, the BW10 camcorder records full HD 1080p video resolution up to six and a half feet under water and offering a 10x digital zoom to capture images from afar.

The CAMILEO BW10 camcorder is equipped with a two-inch diagonal LCD screen and weighs 3.5 ounces. Its electronic image stabilization helps users capture steadier images. Another key feature found in the BW10 package is easy YouTube uploading with the CAMILEO Uploader software.

The CAMILEO BW10 camcorder also doubles as a five megapixel digital still camera, with separate video and photo functions. Consumers can view videos and still photos directly on a computer or HDTV with a mini HDMI cable (sold separately).

The CAMILEO BW10 is immediately available at toshibadirect.com and a variety of major consumer electronics and computer stores nationwide starting at US$149.99 MSRP.

Developed for use in multiple devices, including tablets, consumer electronics devices and external HDDs, the new MKxx39GSL series offers three models, at 160GB (MK1639GSL), 200GB (MK2039GSL) and 220GB (MK2239GSL) capacities.

The MK2239GSL features the largest capacity 1.8-inch single-platter HDD (5mmH) available. The MK2239GSL, MK2039GSL, and the MK1639GSL are designed for the most demanding mobile computing applications, surpassing 2.5-inch HDDs in terms of vibration robustness, low power consumption, and quiet operation. Samples will be available for customer qualification in February.

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In January, during the PMA 2015 Conferences, Gabrielle Mullinax of Fullerton Photo became president of PMA – where in the past month, a new CEO has been installed and a new management company has been hired to help create fresh growth and opportunities for PMA and its members. In this episode of the PMA Podcast, [...]